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de Elliot Brothers
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Elliot Brothers hail from Duluth, Minnesota. An eclectic band, de Elliot Brothers play blues, ragtime, folk, and humorous Northland songs. De Elliot Bros. music is defined as: Jug Band Music with a squirt of Northland Humor. Folk music with a touch of Blues, Bluegrass, with a hint of Ragtime, and Gospel. Their recordings feature such traditional instruments as: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, accordian, piano, harmonica, banjo and a variety of home-made Instruments such as Washtub Bass, Washboard, Jugs, Spoons, Kazoo's, numerous kitchen utensils.
Leader Elliot Silberman: "I was born and raised in Duluth Minnesota. My love for the land and fishing and the mystery it holds, came from my father, who first took me fishing when I was three. We would stop at Jim's Bait for chubs' n suckers and head up to Rice lake, where he would rent a boat, put a rod in my hands, and row us about. This was my baptism in the outdoors, the love of fishing, and the persuit of the ultimate hookset. A block and a half from my home, was Chester Creek, where from the age of eight on, I spent many many days exploring, fishing and hiking to Chester Bowl and back.
After graduating High School, in the early sixties, I attended the Minneapolis School of Art, which is called the Mpls. College of Art and Design now. I was trained as a Printmaker in the fine arts of hand lithography, etchings, and woodcuts. Painting, and sculpture were other interests of mine. It was those early art school days where I learned six chords on a friends guitar. My next birthday, dad bought me a used, cheap Stella guitar, and I immediately began learning chords and songs off the radio, like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams songs. Little did dad know, how that seed would sprout over the years; and little did I know de Elliot Bros. began forming.
Like another Lithuanian Jew from northern Minnesota, moving to the big city of Minneapolis Saint Paul, played an important part in feeding me, in the arts and music arena. I sought out other musicians from all over the area, and began discovering unheard music from the Minneapolis public library, stuff from the 20’s and 30’s . Where had this music come from I wondered. During this period at art school, I met Dave Lynas, where we both got hooked on the same type of music, and formed a wonderful art/music bond of friendship until this day. Music like the Carter Family, Jimmy Rogers, old time traditional music, bluegrass, and many old black blues-men and women from another era. Many were blind and actually still alive. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Reverand Gary Davis, whom I was able to see in 1966 in New York City. Others were Blind Willie McTell, Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Willie Johnson, Mance Lipscomb, Josh White, and too many others to note here. I also found old 78rpm from the library of Jugbands from the 30’s, like the Memphis jugband. What I didn’t know, was that this music, mostly from the south, was being discovered by many others all over the world, truly a renaissance revival of sorts; and mostly discovered by white boys, who took it and began playing it. During this discovery of old music, Cajun, Jugband and home-made instruments, I made my first wash-tub bass, bought an old wash-board, jug, and ever since, have had them around my house where ever my home was.
The Annual Battle of the Jugbands, held in Duluth each May, is a Celebration of this type of music, and the joy of playing it. A number of Jugbands come to partake, and vie for the coveted Yid-wegian Krumkake Award. It is held each Memorial Day Sunday, in conjunction with a Salute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Kids bands are welcome, as there is no intimidation here to sound perfect. A wonderful feeling of comraderie fills the air, and people hearing this for the first time, get to hear, poor mans jazz, a variety of jugband music.
Over the years, thru various people, I have learned a number of instruments. Not to be an expert on them, but to play them enough to sit-in with others at jams. I could play the Mandolin, Autoharp, Harmonica, Wash-tub, Washboard, Flutes, Slide-guitar, Banjo, Button-box, Piano, and most recently, the Finnish Fiddle, or Jouhikko. Altho I have recorded on old reel to reels in the sixties, I began studio recording in the eighties. I have done sound tracks and background music for fishing videos, TV programs and documentaries, and began playing out more regularly. Open stages, nursing homes, county jails, coffee houses, schools, folk festivals, weddings, funerals, and of course, for my own children.
I was married with children from the late 60’s thru the 80’s and was living on 31 acres ten miles north of Duluth, with a live off the land as much as possible attitude. From about 1973 or so, I have primarily supported the family as a Portrait Artist. Sketching at Art Festivals, Renaissance Festivals, County Fairs, Senior Partys, Re-unions and Bar-Mitzvas.
During the early 80’s, Lynas and I re-connected, after nearly 20 years apart raising the family, and living back on the land. Over the years he also expanded his musical horizons somewhat by playing in a local Polka band.
How did de Elliot Bros. start? In the mid-eighties, I had a portable 4-track recorder, and began recording old time jugband songs along with original music, and holy geez Toivo, it sounded like a BAND, when it was just me. So, thusly de Elliot Bros. was born, from that small seed my dad planted in 1962. In actuality, I am Bert and Ethels kid. My first tape was Steelhead Blues, recorded in my own simple home recording studio, now called Icehouse Studios. I still make a living as a Portrait Artist, and travel a lot on weekends to festivals in the upper mid-west.
For the last ten years or so, I have had Wed. nite jams here at my home, many are potlucks and celebrations with music. Dave Lynas, a great Illustrator, and Potter, have been jamming with me since the mid-eighties. Most recent members of the group are Tom Hollenhorst and his wife Karin Kraemer. She plays washtub, jug, fiddle and mandolin and is also a potter who makes her own jugs. Tom playes washtub, washboard, mandolin, and banjo. Dennis and Stephanie Hanson from Sandstone Minnesota, about an hour and a half away, come fairly regularly along with a few others who come and go. Dennis plays mandolin and Stephanie is hot on the washtub bass and G-twang, a one gallon paint can with a yardstick bolted on its side, and a weed-wacker cord strung thru the middle of the can.
The basic band is made up of four to seven people. Lynas plays most everything; diggery-doo, clarinette, flutes, banjo, slide-guitar, washtub, and guitar. We have had as many as 10 people show up for music. What a gas. At the homemade jams, we play a variety of music. Mostly folk, blues, gospel, country-blues, 60's du-whop and old standards. Our jams are easy going, and very non-intimidating, and easy to be a part of. Kids can easily be a part of this kind of music. We don't play out too much, so when we do, be sure to catch us. You want to know about the Funny-cheeks masks we sometimes wear? Well, that's another story."
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Fishin Witcho Jug band music for 2005. Songs that praise the delights of getting ready to go fishing, going fishing, and fishing bait. Features numerous guest artists, including the Hermantown, MN Elementary Third Graders. CD Price: $14.97  |
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Sauna Music The latest from those crazy jug band folks. Featuring "You Can't Do That," a spoken word look at all the things you aren't suppose to do be because they're bad for you or they're dangerous, the classic "Ain't She Sweet," Woody Guthrie's "Will You Miss Me," and a number of traditional tunes including "Days of 49" and "Diamond Joe." CD Price: $14.97 |
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Yooper Girls Elliot Silberman - guitar, Fradella accordion, Hoener button box, jouhikko, washtub bass, washboard, jug, harmonica, kazoo, whistle, turtle shells, vocals. Dave Lynas - cover photo and layout, didjerido, washtub bass, banjo, vocals. Ted Gay - washtub bass, washboard, marakas, vocals. CD Price: $14.97 |
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I Like it in Duluth Elliot Silberman: Guitar, harmonica, vocals, piano, kazoo David Lynas: Tin whistles, vocals, diggery doo, banjo, slide guitar Jolly Bones Fisher: Vocals, washtub bass, turtle shells, whistle, fiddle, kazoo Karin Kraemer: Vocals, fiddle, jug, sandpaper blocks Tom Hollenhorst: Washboard, bongos, washtub bass, drums Dennis Hansen: Mandolin, vocals Stephanie Hansen: Washtub bass, G-twang, vocals Kim Ellerman: Harmonica Bill Taylor: Tuba, sax Janet Blixt: Toy piano, spoons, harmonica. CD Price: $14.97 |